On what should have been a joyous celebration, Lance George Gabriel Jr., a 22-year-old male, was tragically killed on the evening of his birthday, May 13, 2014, in Federal Way, Washington. A Marine on leave, he was returning home from a birthday dinner with his new bride and friends. As he was trying to find a parking spot in the lot outside his mother's apartment, he was senselessly shot and killed.
The act appeared to be random and motiveless, as Gabriel Jr.
did not know the person who shot him. His family was left bewildered and devastated by the sudden and inexplicable loss. His father, George Gabriel, expressed his profound grief and confusion, stating he couldn't comprehend the reason behind the killing. The family laid him to rest, grappling with the immense pain of leaving him there.
A suspect, Bernard Bellerouche, was later arrested in the Tri-Cities, bringing a measure of relief to the grieving family. The news of the arrest came as a comfort to his parents and relatives during an incredibly difficult time. Authorities also considered Bellerouche a suspect in two other shootings that occurred in the same month, one of which was fatal and the other resulted in injury. The killing of Lance George Gabriel Jr. cut short the life of a young man who was celebrating a milestone with his loved ones.
